#choicescreates round 27

[angstymarshmallow]

Covert Action Part 2- A Most Wanted Fanfic

[A little note: I wanted to do a part two to this so long ago but lost the inspiration to finish until recently. Since this a continuation - part one is right here. Most Wanted is such a favourite of mine and I wanted to finish this in time before the choicescreates deadline. Kudos to the lovely ladies @mrswalkerwrites @ladyashtonofcordonia and @blazerina that helped me work through some qualms I had with writing this and for supporting me! Also huge thanks to Mags for never giving up on this story @diamondsaregold. There are subtle mentions of torture in here so in case this may be a trigger for you.]

[Summary: Samantha Massey is gone. There is no trace of her, but David Reyes and the rest of the team refuses to give up until they’ve found proof that she hasn’t disappeared off the grid.]

#Choicescreates Round 27 Book: Most Wanted Rating: Teen Pairing: None Hosted by: @pb-choices , @holly-park

“Sam? Sam?! Dammit Sam!” David Reyes’s voice sounded nearly shrill to his own ears, and mildly off-putting compared to his regular facade. When he couldn’t hear her answer - not even the grumble of her agitated breath inside his ear anymore, his feet carried him faster. It had to have been minutes he remained listening. A car started and he could hear grumbles of distinct Spanish.

Shit, shit. Panic flew to his chest and refused to budge as he muttered quick excuses as he rushed through crowds of people. He saw Ryan Summers out of the corner of his eyes, shooting him a puzzled expression before his own darkened in understanding. He spared the celebrity a firm nod, and otherwise ignored the rest of patrons in the hall. Dodging between the flood of guests, he flitted with increasing speed and all he could think about was finding his partner before it was too late. 

The nearest exit had to be around here somewhere. “Massey - this isn’t funny,” he croaked, “get the hell out of there.” His breath quickened, “now.”

The voice on the other line hadn’t been his Sam when he finally heard an answer. It was too low and thick of a heavily accent that didn’t sound as if it belonged to his southern partner. His stomach bunched into knots as the man spoke crisply inside his ear. 

“You follow us and we kill her.” There was no mistaking the venom inside the tone, nor did his threatening promise fall on deaf ears. It was one of Santos men, if Dave was a betting man, and he was -  their case had suddenly become a lot harder.

The detective could barely keep a rein on his temper to snap back at the man, and demand for Sam. He needed to play it coolly. He was Reyes - the Dave Reyes. He couldn’t allow his anger to dictate his own dealings with people. He was a negotiator - not a shit disturber. He tried for patience before speaking.

He wasn’t a man of action without having some sort of plan - but the fresh panic made it difficult for him to think on his feet, and it refused to subside no matter how much he tried. Split seconds turned into a minute, before he spoke thinly. “Look, you don’t need take a civilian. She’s just my date to the gala.” He knew the man on the other line had figured who he was at this point, “I’m a far better trade than her.”

The voice laughed, before he heard the sound of another person - too familiar for it to be anyone except the man they had been hunting for months, speaking clearly inside his ear. “Please do not take me for a fool detective Reyes.”

He nearly stumbled in his step. He hadn’t expected them all to be travelling inside the same vehicle. Shit, that meant they took less men than he had anticipated. “Santos, I don’t think we’ve ever had the pleasure of meeting.” He tried to sound smooth, but his pulse was racing as he skirted another corner of the hall. How many did this godforsaken manor have?

“I know exactly who you are Mr. Reyes.” The man tsked, “And this woman too. Samantha Massey, si?” 

Dave swallowed so loudly, that Santos laughed. “I think you’re mistaken. I never take work home with me, and I definitely never mix business with pleasure.”

“That’s not what I’ve been told.” He tsked. “Ah detective, while I enjoy our little game I have other things to attend to.” A pause. “We were always three steps ahead of you.”

He cursed. How had he known? Had Sam been right this entire time? Did someone tip Santos off before they arrived here? His voice faltered, “Listen, Santos -” 

The line went dead before Dave could finish his sentence. He flung a string of harsh expletives,. As if the situation couldn’t have gotten any worse - there cover was blown. 

When he discovered the back entrance of the manor, he quickly sifted through, however his new hope of finding them was short-lived the moment he stumbled outside. His feet merely hit the gravel pavement in the same split seconds of hearing car tires screeching before his eyes turned sharply towards the sound.

Santos’ car had been too dark for his eyes to follow; blending in with the rest of the midnight air before it quickly merging into traffic. Running his hands through his hair, he stared baffled for a moment, wondering how their plan had turned from bad to worse before he could grapple with their circumstances. Giving himself a mental shake, he called the precinct while his eyes caught the sight of the discarded earpiece, almost gleaming under the quiet moonlight.

At further inspection, the device had been deliberately trampled on and with its ruined state any hope of chasing after them had dwindled into nearly nothing. Reza had been the that answered and Dave had quickly begun speaking before the man could say anything.

He uttered another foul curse in the middle of his sentence. The panic was back and it threatened to make him utter a strangled noise of frustration, as he pocketed the earpiece and swung his gaze towards the front of the manor. 

For the first time in his life, detective Reyes was unsure how to proceed.

Sam Massey was simply gone.

-

Nightmares were Dave Reyes’ best friend. 

They were acquaintances when his mother died, distant friends from the father he had long become estranged to, and by the time he turned a detective with the endless cases a constant bundle by his desk - it became family.  

Usually his nights were filled of them, torturing him through an influx of hazy images and noises. They never allowed for more than five hours of rest. They clung to his mind long after he had awoken and often times he broke out into cold sweats from just the severity of them. Then with added aggravation, the detective would yank his sheets off from on top of him, and his feet would slid into soft bedside slippers before leading him to his balcony for a quick cigarette.

Tonight had been no exception. 

Half naked, he padded towards his balcony, arms bunching with tension as his lips inhaled the familiar comfort of smoke filling his bruised lungs. He shuddered once at morning air but otherwise stood impassively as he watched the rest of the city.

His eyes searched below while he inhaled. He watched the early risers that crossed streets briskly towards the subway line, as he listened to the sound of morning L.A. traffic. 

These little things comforted him. They had often given him normalcy, made it easier for him to cope with his career. However, they couldn’t deter his mind from lingering on the blonde woman he had grown accustomed to seeing as early as dawn breached the horizon, and stepping inside the station without her suddenly hit him like a swift punch to his gut. 

There would be no Sam Massey waiting by his desk with a scowl on her face today. And if he was being completely honest with himself, the more his thoughts lingered, the more he realized how empty he would feel stepping inside of the LAPD department without her.

Stubbing his cigarette on the railing, he dropped it and watched it fall before turning on his heels and walking back inside. He was wasting precious time. Sam wasn’t gone yet, and he had at least twenty-fours before he might never see her again.

He dressed quickly that morning, pulling out the first suit he found and didn’t idle with coffee or toast this morning. His mind had already switched to work, and he only stopped by the front door of his condo.

His eyes caught by a picture he took with his team months ago when Sam had signed on officially into this department. They had taken a picture to celebrate, and he remembered dimly alcohol had quickly followed.

Sam was scowling at the camera.It wasn’t unusual for her to but now on closer inspection, he found her eyes smiling back instead of shooting daggers the way he expected them to. Even if she never had admitted it to him, he knew the woman never regretted a single moment of transferring to their unit.

Shrugging on his jacket, he left with his keys in tow before humming under his breath and hurried to catch the next subway.

-

The LAPD precinct was bustling with a particular lively morning attitude that didn’t mirror Dave’s as soon as he stepped inside. No matter the time of the day, he could admit there was always something happening. People piled into the department almost as soon as the day begun.

Police officers took civilian reports while others have stopped near the receptionist desk. Dave swept past it, only pausing long enough to give the familiar woman a wan smile before briskly walking ahead. He didn’t feel in the mood for their usual morning banter; he was too focused, too preoccupied and the more time he spent looking for Sam - the sooner he would find her. 

The doors rung close and he shifted uncomfortably inside the shaft until the doors opened once again to his familiar floor. 

Nikhil and Reza were the first people Dave noticed near the entrance. Nikhil’s signature blue jacket with white stripes always gave him away and Reza not unusually frazzled, had his arms crossed against his grey sweater as he spoke. They were talking in hushed overtones and seemed to be in deep discussion before they noticed him.

Reza was the first to greet him and perked up immediately at the sight of his friend.  “Dave!”

Dave couldn’t return his sentiments entirely. It was not that kind of day. He forced a smile. “Morning,” He murmured. “Any update?”

Nikhil, seemingly less oblivious simply nodded before gesturing to Mirasol. “She’s going through Santos profile again. We’re hoping there’s something we missed that’ll help us locate Sam.”

Before Dave could respond, he heard Captain Beckham’s voice booming until the woman appeared in front of him. Her eyebrows were raised and her hands were on her hips; and Dave knew the moment she spotted him that she was not going to be in the mood for pleasantries.

Her eyes were furious but she merely jerked her head towards the direction of her office.

Nikhil and Reza gave him sympathetic looks before getting back to work. Dave mouthed a phrase of distress towards them, but they politely ignored. They all knew what it meant when Beckham used that tone.

“Captain.” Dave greeted as he closed the door behind them.

She barely sat behind her desk before she exploded. “What the hell were you thinking Reyes?” She demanded hotly, “what happened to sticking with the plan?”

He decided to wait until her tirade was finished. He knew better from first hand experience, that it made more sense to wait than interrupt her.

“I never thought I’d see you break orders, especially for such a high profile case.” Her hands went up to cover her face, and when she glanced up again at him, her face softened. “Jesus, and now Sam’s missing…” she trailed off, “how’re you?”

Dave shifted uncomfortably on his feet. He didn’t know why she was asking him. How did she expect him to answer? Sam was gone, and he was partially to blame. He ignored her question. “I’m sorry we ignored your direct orders,” he began stiffly, “the situation changed rather quickly.” His jaw tightened, “and someone knew we were going to be here.”

The captain’s eyes narrowed and she lowered her voice, “you think someone got wind of this,” she frowned, “from our department?”

He shrugged. “I don’t know.” He ran frustrated fingers through his hair while his brow furrowed, “but what I do know is that they knew exactly who were even before Sam made contact.” 

She bristled, “there’s no way -”

He sighed, “Santos pretty much confirmed it when I spoke to him.” He slipped his hands inside his pockets, “someone tipped them off Captain. Someone deliberately placed us both in danger that night.”

The captain sat back inside her seat. “But that’s impossible.” She muttered thinly. Her face twisted before eyes flitted back. “There were only a small amount of people that knew about this operation.”

“Well either the info got leaked or,” he lowered his voice, “we have a mole inside the precinct.” It dawned on him as he said it that this case had become far bigger than he anticipated. Dirty cops? Drug lords and arm dealers? How far did this all run?

She leaned forward inside her seat, propping her elbows on the desk and sighed as she mulled over his words. “This is more dangerous than I thought,” She spoke as if she had been reading his mind. “I don’t want anyone catching wind of this, well anyone else.” 

“You want me to keep it quiet, Captain?”

“For now. Yes.” She raised her eyes to meet him with a careful expression, “only the team needs to know about this while I do a little bit digging myself.”

“And what do I do? You can’t expect me not to look for Sam.” His voice changed, raising with every word he uttered until the captain’s eyebrows arched shrewdly at him. “Sorry, I just -” He made a noise of frustration under his breath.

“I know.” She said quietly, softly sighing. “I know.”

Silence clung for a few hesitant beats as Dave shifted on his feet. “Continue investigating, you’re one of our best and I’m sure team are more than eager to help you find her but,” she lowered her voice again into almost an inaudible, “keep this quiet. If what you’re saying is true - then we’ve got a lot on our plate.”

Dave agreed, inclining his head at her before he headed to her door. He was already formulating his next plan when the captain called out to him.

“Oh and Reyes?”

He turned to meet her firm nod, “Be careful.”

He nodded back, before disappearing down the hall. He was still reeling from their discussion when he spotted Mirasol by her desk. He didn’t waste anytime, he took quick strides in her direction.

She was too wrapped in whatever busied her screen at his approach. Her hair was in a simple bun - it’s natural state, Dave thought by all means as he cleared his throat to catch her attention.

No such luck.  

Her tiny frown was a comfort that reminded him too much of Sam as he leaned against the corner of her desk. “Good morning,” He greeted, and this time he placed a lot of strain in keeping his tone friendly and light.

Her dark brown eyes snapped up at him. Something passed between them bfore he felt them turn sympathetic. “You can cut the bullshit.” Her face softened a little from it’s usual half scowl, “ I know you’re having a bad day.”

“A bad day,” Dave agreed, “probably a bad week. I just need to know if there’s anything we missed. Something that could help us figure out where Santos took her.”

Mirasol shook her head, “nothing much from my end other than what we already know about him.” Absently, she gripped the chain around her neck. 

“I was analyzing the footage from the security camera from the gala last night,” Reza mumbled, walking over with Nikhil in tow. “I was hoping I could catch their licensed plate of their vehicle or something else that could point us into some direction.”

“Did you?” Dave lifted a brow.

“I did!” Reza’s enthusiastic nod didn’t last long. “But it doesn’t add up. It belonged to a man from one of the mechanics downtown after I ran his prints. The car’s a rental.”  He folded his arms.

“Well that’s better than nothing,” Dave muttered, sighing under his breath. “I should go talk to him, maybe see if he’ll give us a name -”

“You and I both know he won’t.” Nikhil interrupted, running a hand through his jet black hair. “Besides, I called as soon as he opened and he doesn’t remember the name of the man.” He rolled his eyes, “likely story but I’m sure one of Santos’ men must have paid him off or something.”

“But there must be something,” Dave insisted.

“He did mention the man who rented it had a tattoo, some kind of a half moon -” Nikhil gestured with a flicker of his wrist towards Mirasol, “sketched but it’s not enough to go on. The mechanic didn’t recall what the man looked like.”

“That’s not coincidental.” Dave straightened his shoulders. He was fighting through blind panic. None of this was much to go on.

No, not here. 

He couldn’t lose it here. 

His team was looking at him with the same feelings he had been wrestling with all night. He couldn’t abandon all hope. And this was Sam Massey he was talking about - she was tough as nails. No matter where she was; he would find her.

He rolled up his cuff-links. “We’ll start over, look at everything we have.” His tone had an edge of desperation he couldn’t quite mask. “There’s something we missed,” there has to be. He wasn’t giving up on her, and as he glanced at the grim determination on their faces, he knew they wouldn’t too. They would work as a well oiled machine until they found her.

-

Meanwhile on the other side of town…

Samantha Massey’s fingers clenched until she could break the surface of her own palm, scratching nimbly to distract her. It hurt, but it was nothing compared to the pain she felt once the man in front of her fists had connected. That had been much worse, knocking the breath right out of her before she inhaled sharply. For a moment, she swore saw stars.

Her eyes threatened to glaze over and tears formed from the stinging sensation that was left behind. The pounding inside her head increased. She spat out blood at the side of her feet as the man loomed forward, close enough for her to smell faint alcohol on his breath.

The man had switched between Spanish and English during the evening but now that it was morning, he seemed to simply had it with how stubbornly quiet Sam had been.

It was difficult when torture had started, but she’d be damned to break down in front of anyone - let alone a complete stranger who for all intense purposes, would be at the bottom of her boots if she hadn’t been tied to this chair. She glared at him, drawing her teeth back to spit again. 

“How did you know Santos was going to be at the gala?” The man’s voice rumbled.

She didn’t respond. 

It was better to keep conversation to a minimum anyway, and for the most part, she tried to distract herself with her surroundings; making a mental note of anything that stood out to her. If she was going to get out here alive, she had to make sure she knew an exit way. When she got out alive, she corrected herself. 

The man’s breath was nearly by her neck, and she bit back the shudder she felt creeping up her spine when she heard him speak. “You know there’s other ways to get you to speak…it doesn’t have to be so hard.” His hand had traveled up her thigh and she dug her heels inside the ground beneath her feet.

When he pulled away enough for his eyes to roam her torn cleavage, she reeled her head back enough to connect with his. The explosion inside her head had been almost instantaneous, and she gritted her teeth before she could cry out in pain.

She took some satisfaction in seeing the man stumble back, clutching his head before snarling at her. “You stupid bitch!”

She would smile if it didn’t hurt so much to breathe. “My momma could hit better than you.” She sneered.

She braced herself for another punch until she her heard another voice join the room. Her eyes were nearly swollen shut, but she could still make out the handsome gentleman dressed inside his tailored suit from last night.

“Milo, that isn’t how we treat our guests.” The gentleman tsked. 

The other man had bowed his head gravelly as he approached, and muttered an apology that Sam barely caught.

She waited until Santos was right in front of her before she spat blood by his feet.

He barely jumped out of the way in time, before fixing her with a dark expression. “You know this would be over if you just told us what we wanted to know. I am a patient man after all,” he pulled up his cuffs, “but eventually patience has its limits.”

Sam snorted, and flinched almost a second after. She felt her skin crawl as his hands deftly held up her chin.

“Such a pretty face. Tis a pity really, I could cover you from head to toe in jewels, if you’d only give me what I want.” His fingers gripped her chin so tightly that it stung. “Who else knows how deep my market runs, hmm? Who else in your department apart from Detective David Reyes knows about my plan?”

At the sound of her partner’s name, Sam stiffened. Her eyes shot daggers at the man and Santos chuckled in response. “Yes, I know all about him too.” He tsked, “for people that work under the law - you two haven’t been very bright.”

Stubbornly, she remained quiet.

“And if you aren’t careful, Reyes will soon join you here. Or,” he added softly, voice a menacing whisper, “maybe I’ll send you in pieces to his doorstep if you don’t give me what I want.” 

His eyes held hers and she didn’t waver in her glower. Eventually, he released her chin, and when he did droplets of blood dripped from his fingers. “This one is stubborn,” he stood and his smile made her heart lurch. “But even the most stubborn can be broken.” He stepped back and nodded to the other man that Sam had almost forgotten. 

She knew even before she felt the sharp pain shoot up her spine that there was no way she was getting back out alive. Not unless she told them the names of all her team. She wouldn’t - Billy had raised her better than that and her lasts thoughts were of him before she felt darkness threatening to grab her under again. This time, she succumbed as her screams seemed to echo throughout the room.

-

[cinnamonroll-duffy]

#ChoicesCreates69 (20 -27 July)

Credit to  @miss-twombly for the gif.

Thanks to those who had submitted last round ( @mariamatsuo , @choiceslife , @writtenbycandy ,  @itsalliepg , @lizeboredom ,  @september-stardust , @kinkykingliam  , @endlessflame, and @trr-duchessofvaltoria). The compilation is here. 

This week’s theme is:

Wrong Choices

None of the Choices characters are perfect (except Nathan, ofc), and they find themselves in situations they never wanted. This where we explore regrets and things our dear characters would want to differently..

Post your creative works by Friday the 20th of July by 7pm, Chicago Time.

Remember these 3 steps (Your Work won’t be published in the compilation without it.):

Include #ChoicesCreates69 and #ChoicesCreates in your tags, as it helps us track your entries better.

Share your link with me via DM or submit.

Mention me ( @clonedhayden )   in your post.

Reblog with one of your greatest regrets and spread the word.

[kathleen-kitty-blog]

Sick Days

Summary: We all have sick days. It's nothing to be embarrassed over.

Author's note: Since it's Most Wanted Week, I finally managed to get this thing done. It's mainly fluff/pairing. I just couldn't get the idea of a sick Dave Reyes out of my mind 😄 (sorry Dave).

Prompt: Round 27 of #ChoicesCreates: Anything Most Wanted

Tags: @holly-park @pb-choices

Anyways, here goes!

It was exactly 7am in Los Angeles and a certain blonde Deputy Marshal was impatiently tapping her foot on the floor of the L.A.P.D. precinct. Growing annoyed every time another minute went by, she groaned and pulled out her phone. Almost as if it were a second nature, her fingers quickly pressed the contact she needed. It didn't take long for a familiar voice to answer. "What?" He asked irritably. Sam didn't try to censor her frustrated tone. "Reyes, where the heck are you?" "At home," he answered immediately. It sounded like there was some type of running water in the background. Feeling anger claw up her spine, she gripped the phone pressed to her ear and clenched her teeth. "Tell me how staying at home gets our job done, huh? Get over here!" Dave only grew more ticked off at her comment. He soon spoke again in a tired, almost dead sounding voice. "Massey, I've been puking my guts out for the past five hours. That's why I'm at home." She quickly snapped her mouth shut and dissolved any witty retorts waiting on her tongue. Feeling a little, very little, bit of sympathy, she softened her tone. "... You okay?" "I'm fine," he replied calmly. "Look, I'm sorry for the inconvenience. I know me being sick isn't helping our case. But I really don't want to show up to work only to throw up all over Beckham's shoes." Sam tried not to cringe at the mental image. "Yeah, can't have that. You stay home and rest. I can take over today." "Thanks, Sam. I owe you one," he said weakly before hanging up the call. As she removed the phone from her ear and placed it back in her pocket, she couldn't help but wonder if Dave was hiding how bad he really felt. He had a tendency to do that sometimes. But frankly, so did she. Just before she could turn around and head into the forensics lab, Mirasol came out with a knowing look on her face. The woman's hair was pulled back in that professionally neat looking bun and she wore a very narrowed gaze. She studied Sam carefully. "Were you talking to Dave?" "Yeah," she answered with a small nod. "He said he's sick-" "Oh, I know. He called me about ten minutes ago," the criminal analyst interrupted as she stopped beside Sam and crossed her arms over her chest. "You should go check on him." "What?" Sam asked in slight shock. Shaking her head, she placed a hand on her hip and leaned into it. "No, I don't have time. This case needs someone working on it." "Who do you think I am?" Mirasol asked with a small smirk. "Reza, Nikhil and I have got this. But mainly me. I can hold down the fort while you're gone." Sam blinked, suddenly at a loss for words. She stood there with her mouth half open before snapping it back into the rhythm of talking. "Mirasol, I really can't-" "Are you planning on busting a killer today?" Mirasol asked smoothly, keeping her eyes sharp and tinted. "... Not at the moment," Sam answered with a slight uneasiness to her tone. The forensic analyst smiled smugly once she knew she had proven her point. "Then you have time to spare. Go get in that rental car of yours and check up on our barfing detective." She quickly pulled out a pair of keys from her pocket and tossed them to the Deputy Marshal. Sam caught the silver chain easily and eyed them. "... Don't tell me Reyes personally made you a spare key to his house," she said with a raised eyebrow. Mirasol shook her head. "No. But one time he let me borrow a pair and I decided to keep it." With that being said, she whipped around and walked back into the lab where Reza and Nikhil waited. Feeling a little dumbstruck and uncertain, Sam found herself turning to head for the door before her mind could register the action. Before long, she was buckling her seatbelt and backing out of the L.A.P.D.'s parking lot.

She pulled to a stop outside the small but lavish house of Dave Reyes. Having been here once before, Sam vaguely recognized the exterior. One way to describe it would be to say that it was very 'Dave'. The place practically screamed 'I'm a single man who's prepared to mingle'. Sam honestly didn't feel like caring as she stepped out of her vehicle and walked up to the front door. After studying the locked entrance and contemplating whether or not she should be polite and knock, her eventual decision was to just go ahead and walk right in. She did have the keys, after all. And besides, Dave could be passed out somewhere and not hear the doorbell. The Deputy Marshal flipped out Mirasol's pair of keys, twisted them in, and stepped inside. The door creaked as she pushed it open and walked into the house. Again, she had been here once before on a different case. So her mind was slightly familiar with the surroundings of the place. Her green eyes scanned the area around her before spotting the stairs coming out of the kitchen. Assuming Dave's bedroom was upwards, she headed in that direction and made her way to the second floor. A cracked, opened door stood against the wall, letting out some light from the windows inside. Sam could hear a little commotion coming out of the room. 'Bingo,' she thought before pushing open the door and stepping inside. A bed with dark, almost navy blue sheets sat against a wall so it was near the center of the room. A single nightstand was next to it along with a chair and desk aligning the other walls. Papers and folders decorated the table while some pens were scattered on top of those. There was a single door in the bedroom that led into a bathroom where a light was coming from. It sounded like someone was rising their face off with some running water. Soon, the sink flipped off. Before Sam could make her presence known by calling out to Dave, the detective himself emerged from the bathroom wearing nothing but some boxers. Immediately, he looked up and spotted Sam. "Jesus!" He exclaimed in shock, jumping and stubbing his toe against the bed. "Crap!" After cursing under his breath and wincing from the pain, he hopped on one leg to regain his balance. "Massey," his voice breathed in pure confusion. "What- what are you doing in my home?" Sam's eyes widened as she studied his exposed muscular figure. Quickly realizing her gaze was lingering too long, she snapped it up to meet his face. "I wanted to see how you were doing." "Well, for God's sake... knock next time. Or better yet, call me before you decide to barge into my house." He narrowed his green eyes skeptically. "How did you even get in here?" "Mirasol gave me her keys," Sam answered as she held the silver chain up, dangling it in front of her face. Her gaze skimmed over his body once more, wondering if he was just going to stand there in his underwear the whole time. Dave seemed to then remember what he was dressed in. "Dammit," he mumbled in frustration and embarrassment before sprinting over to the dresser and pulling out a pair of grey sweatpants. Quickly, he slipped them on and turned to face his partner again. He brushed a hand through his brown hair in an attempt to calm his nerves. "Sorry about that, I... I was sweating and wasn't exactly expecting company, so I just stripped down." Sam tilted her head with a concerned look on her face. "Do you have a fever?" The detective blinked at the question and slowly shrugged. "I don't know. Probably a little." "So you're telling me you haven't even checked yet?" Sam questioned in an irritated tone before stalking into his bathroom and rummaging through some drawers.

Dave tentatively walked up behind her and stood in the doorway. He leaned against the frame of the wall and watched as his partner dug around his sink area. "Massey," he voiced. "What are you doing?" Sam's eyes were narrowed in focus as she continued her work. "Taking care of you since obviously you don't know how to do it yourself." Finally, her fingers enclosed on the small object she was looking for. Smiling triumphantly, Sam turned around and held up a white thermometer. "Open up, Reyes." Dave blinked again, this time in slight alarm. "Sam, seriously, I'm a grown man-" "Stop complaining and open up," Sam ordered in a very strict sounding tone. Her expression was cold and determined. "Now, Reyes." Not seeing another way out, Dave reluctantly obeyed and opened his mouth. But not with out a large eye roll to let her know he wasn't enjoying this. Sam reached up and slammed the thermometer under his tongue. "Ow!" Dave mumbled as best he could with the long, stick-like object poking out of his mouth. "Talk about tough love," he slurred. "Shut up," his partner snapped with crossed arms as she impatiently waited for the beep. When the anticipated noise sounded off, she yanked the thermometer back into her hand and checked the results. "Well?" Dave asked as he ignored his throbbing tongue. "Am I dying or what?" "103," Sam muttered with a shake of her head. "No wonder you were sweating." "Were?" Dave asked himself as he wiped a hand over his forehead and felt the sticky substance. Sam followed his eyes and reached up to brush her fingers along the top of his head. Her hand skimmed the beads of sweat and just barely touched his messy brown hair. It was strange to see detective looking like this. Normally he was an image of calm and cool, everything styled and perfect. But right now he just looked like a straight up mess. "You're burning up..." she mumbled to distract herself from the lingering thoughts on her mind. "Sure feels that way," Dave agreed as he watched her expression. It was rare to see Massey in such a concerned mode. He guessed she could swallow her stubbornness and be motherly when she wanted to. And if he was completely honest with himself, he actually enjoyed these once in a lifetime moments. Snapping back into reality, Sam quickly tore her hand away and gestured to the bed against the wall. "You should lay down. I doubt all this standing is doing any good." "Yeah..." Dave answered before trailing off when he began to feel a familiar sensation come over him again. Groaning as his stomach started to churn, he quickly clutched his mouth and sprinted over to the toilet. Sam stared in slight shock she watched her partner bend over and throw up multiple times. This had to be one of the only occasions she'd ever seen him look so unprepared. Dave Reyes was always prepared. Feeling sympathy crawl up her spine, she slowly walked over and crouched down beside him. "Easy, Reyes..." she whispered. "Just get it all out." Dave managed to cough out a quick but strained reply. "This... this is just embarrassing," he sputtered. "And to think I was trying to keep up a good reputation around you." Before Sam could comment on his words, the detective winced and went right back to what he had previously been doing. She frowned and gently used a hand to massage his shoulders. As she did so, she could feel the tight muscles under his skin. "We all get sick sometimes," she said softly. "It's nothing to get embarrassed about. If you want, I'll never bring up this moment." "I'd appreciate that..." Dave muttered, keeping his eyes shut tight and his teeth clenched. After a few seconds of just breathing, he forced himself to sit back. "I... I think I'm good now." Sam nodded as she examined his sickly appearance again. "When was the last time you ate anything?" "Yesterday," he answered as he finally allowed himself to meet her green eyes.

Samantha shook her head a little. "I bet you don't have a single fiber of energy left in you," she concluded before glancing up to see his face. "Think you can stand?" Dave almost scoffed at the question. "Of course I can-" he argued as he shoved himself to his feet only to stagger and lean against the counter's surface. He gripped the object and desperately tried to balance himself out. "Dammit..." he mumbled, cursing himself for not being able to even hold his own body upright. 'Come on, Reyes. You can't let a little stomach bug make you seem weak in front of Sam.' He thought bitterly. The blonde Deputy Marshal softly touched his forearms and pulled him forward. "Here, let me help." "No," Dave snapped back, tanking himself away from her. His eyes were narrowed and his expression filled with frustration. "I can manage." "Dave, you're not strong enough right now," Sam protested in a surprisingly nonchalant voice. "Put your arm around my shoulders and I'll get you to bed." Still feeling awkward and determined not to seem weak in front of his partner, Dave shook his head and tried to walk forward on trembling legs. "I said I'm fine, Massey. I can walk on my own." Sam's blue eyes hardened a shade after hearing his comment. She crossed her arms and gazed at him coldly. "I'm just trying to help." "Well, I never asked for your help," Dave argued in a much harsher tone than expected. He whipped around to meet her firm stare and held it sternly. "You just showed up in my house and decided I needed you. News flash, I don't. So you can turn around and drive back to the precinct. Let me handle my own problems." Sam's eyes widened for a brief second. But soon, they darkened a shade and glowed in a strong, icy fire. Her stance was strong and furious. "You don't want my help? Fine. I get it. A guy can't break his manly rep and look small. But you know what? You do need my help, Reyes. Whether you like it or not, I'm stayin' right here. We're partners, remember? You're stuck with me, and I'm stuck with you. So dammit, I ain't about to walk away when you need me." After proudly observing his stunned expression, she stalked forward and practically yanked his arm over her shoulders. Not allowing him to protest again, she dragged him over to the bed and shoved his body down against the pillows. Dave just lay there, shocked, and stared up at her. He blinked thoughtfully. As she gazed down at him, Sam narrowed her eyes intently. "Well? Got anything charmingly annoying to say?"

To her surprise, he simply shook his head and got comfortable on the mattress. He kept his eyes locked with her's. "No. You made your point. Maybe I do need you." Sam's determined stance broke for a second only to be replaced by a less angry one. Letting her gaze soften, she sat down beside his feet and exhaled deeply. "... Good. I'm glad we finally agree on something." Dave nodded without saying a word and let his eyes fall on the ceiling above him. A long, tedious silence passed between the two of them. Many unspoken words were said in those slow minutes. Things they could never bring themselves to say out loud. Finally, Samantha broke it with a single question. "When was the last time you let someone take care of you?" Shifting his gaze so it was back on her, Dave blinked as if he were sorting through memories. Then, he smiled a small, sad smile. "When I was seven years old." Sam immediately regretted ever voicing the question. 'Dammit Massey,' she told herself. 'You knew better that.' Sighing, she lowered her eyes. "I'm sorry, Reyes..." "No," he answered quietly, studying her face. "Don't be. Sometimes it's nice to remember my mom as the caring person she was. I guess I always find myself focusing on her face when..." he trailed off, lost in past emotions. "Well... you know." Green eyes flickering up to meet his, Sam scooted closer and reached over his legs to grasp his hand. She rubbed the warm fingers and kept her gaze locked with his. "I bet she'd be proud of the man you've become, Dave." Dave's face seemed to lighten up briefly. His lips formed into a soft smile as he intertwined his fingers with her's. "... Thanks, Sam." "Shh," she whispered as she reached up to touch his warm forehead again. "Thank me when you're feeling better." The detective rolled his eyes in amusement, his lips curled upwards. "Are you always this concerned over sick people?" "Hey, I have three stubborn older brothers back at home. Someone's gotta make sure they take their medicine," she answered playfully as she retracted her other hand and stood up to grab a wet towel from the bathroom. Dave watched her leave with that same smile on his face. Suddenly, his head wasn't pounding quite as hard as before. Or maybe he just had reason to ignore it now. "You should tell me more about Texas." Sam soon reentered the bedroom with a cold towel and placed it over Dave's forehead. "Better yet, you could come back with me and I'll show you Texas." "Sheesh, let me think about that offer," Dave said with a small shake of his head as he relaxed under the wet cloth. "I don't think I'd fit in very well in your hometown."

"You'd stick out like a sore thumb," Sam agreed smugly, sitting back on her spot beside his legs. "Hey now," Dave protested teasingly. "You didn't exactly blend in when you first showed up in my city. I'm surprised you've lasted this long." Sam smirked a little, letting a fond smile form on her lips. She narrowed her eyes and pretended to study the man before her. "Hm. Oh yeah, I can definitely make a cowboy outta you. Throw on some Wranglers, boots and a hat..." "Oh no," Dave breathed, letting his head fall back. "What have I gotten myself into?" Still smirking, Sam flipped her hair over her shoulder confidently. "This is gonna be fun. I'll plan out your whole vacation." Standing up, she tilted her head in his direction and changed the subject. "You thirsty? I'm sure I can scrounge up something in your kitchen." "You know, some ice water sounds pretty good right now," he admitted, feeling the dryness of his throat. "Think you can manage to do that without breaking anything?" Sam rolled her green eyes and started heading for the door leading to the stairs. "Very funny. Just for that I might decide to 'accidentally' drop a glass." Dave chuckled a little as he watched her walk away, staring at the frame of her body and the way her blonde hair decorated her head. "Hey, Massey," he called before the could leave. Sam turned around to look at him over her shoulder. "Yeah?" 'I love you...' he said internally, biting his tongue and feeling flushed under her green eyed gaze. "... Thanks. You know, for taking care of me and... everything." Her expression was warm but hidden. It looked like something was on her mind that she just couldn't bring out. Instead, she nodded with a small smile. "Anytime, Reyes." With that being said, she turned back around and headed out of the room. The End

[choicesclown]

#ChoicesCreates27 Masterlist: Anything Most Wanted

So, this is the masterlist for Round 27 of #ChoicesCreates! Thank you to @holly-park for allowing me to host. I'm very impressed by the talented people who have bravely posted their work for this round, especially since there's only one book offered as the prompt 😁 

If I’ve missed anyone out, please tell me and I’ll change the masterlist accordingly :>

Here's to Most Wanted, and Book 2 coming out by the end of this year 😩💞

Fanfiction

Sam x Dave

Islands in the Stream by @toglidethroughlife 

Covert Action [Part 2] by @kittenmusicals

Others

Keeps Pulling Me Back by @dopecatcollins

Medal of Honor by @endlessflame​ (Officer McKenzie)

Sick Days by @kathleen-kitty​

Sunflower (Mirasol’s Profile) by @holly-park (Mirasol)

Fanart/Edits/Aesthetics

Sam Massey: Resident Badass by @freshman-imagine-that

Fandom Aesthetics: Most Wanted by @bisexualgreyjoys

[endlessflame]

Medal of Honor (Officer McKenzie)

Prompt: Round 27 of #ChoicesCreates: Anything Most Wanted

Summary: Officer Rebecca McKenzie learns that she will receive a medal from the mayor.

Rating: T

Tags: @holly-park​, @pb-choices​

Rebecca slowly sat up and reached for the bottle of pills on the nightstand. Her head was beginning to ache again. She took out a pill, then grabbed the bottle of water by her bed. After washing down the medication, she lay down and waited for it to kick in. Soon she was feeling much better. The pills worked wonders. 

She rose and picked up her crutch, then limped to the living room, where she sat down on the couch. After turning on the television, she settled down to watch the news. Hayley Rose and John Tull were the biggest story, of course. A photo of Cassandra Leigh flashed on the screen as the reporter spoke: "Actress Cassandra Leigh landed Hayley Rose's private jet after the pilot was shot. Although she has been training for her pilot's license, she had only flown small prop planes. She did a smashing job!" Hayley's jet appeared on the television screen, rapidly skidding down the tarmac. As the plane crashed, ambulances, fire engines, and police cars raced towards the scene.

Rebecca had tried so hard to stop Tull and Hayley, but it hadn't been enough. And she hadn't been able to stop them from taking Cassandra. But what if Cassandra hadn't been on the plane? Maybe they would all be dead.  Maybe she shouldn't blame herself. Things could have turned out much differently if Tull and Hayley had escaped without Cassandra. Still, not everyone had survived. The image of two dead bodies popped into her head.  Those poor people. If only she could have saved them too.

She pushed the thoughts from her mind as she heard the ringing of the phone. When she answered the call, she heard the voice of Captain Dana Beckham.

"I hope you're feeling better. I wanted to commend you for your outstanding performance. I spoke with the mayor, and you will be honored with a medal for your service."

After the call ended, Rebecca stared at the phone in shock. She was going to receive a medal.  Massey and Detective Reyes were so much more experienced, and yet she was being honored right along with them. Her mother would be so proud that one of her children had done such a good job. She felt a pang of sadness as she thought of her brother. Her mother's heart had broken when she heard the news about him.

She called her mother's number.  "Hey, Mom. Guess what! Captain Beckham told me that the mayor is giving me a medal!" She filled her mother in on the details. "Yes, I'm feeling much better. I know you worry. I'm OK, really. I'll probably even be back at work soon." Of course her mother was concerned about her being in such a dangerous situation, but that was part of the job. She felt much more confident now. She had proven to herself that she could handle the most difficult circumstances.

[texanhusker]

#ChoicesCreates Master List Round 16 (June 27-July 2)

Hello, Choices Fandom I was your host for this week’s Choices Creates. I have a great time reading the stories that came out of the prompt I used for my week of Choices Creates. I had a blast doing it. Thank you all for your entries. I was glad to see the response of everyone. People seemed to enjoy this one. If I am missing an entry, please message me a link to it. 

This Week Prompt was: 

I had to do it, lol. The prompt came from my favorite show, Arrow. Olicity, all the way. Without further ado this week’s master list. 

The Crown & The Flame:

Ashes of Love - Kenna x Dom - @endlessflame

Early Dawn - Diavolos x Kenna - @rantingchoices

Endless Summer: 

Can I make you love me? - Michelle x Sean - @massivelysilentchaos

Close Your Eyes and It’s Not Over Yet - Sean x MC - @alwaysanotheroc

Exteriors Inside: Pt.1-A Blaire and Grace - @xxchoicesxx

I’m Sorry - Jake x MC  - @pixelchoices

Say You Love Me - Jake x MC - @joyfulchoices

Teach Me How To Unlove You - Jake x MC - @hollyashton

This Moment - Jake x MC - @readallaboutdream

Endless Summer Fan Art: 

Grace’s Confession - Grace x Aleister s - @shazrystyles

The Freshman:

A Little Improvisation (James x MC, NSFW) - @hartfeld

Fluorescent - James Ashton x Reader - @elizabethschoices

Her side - Zig x MC - @zigbadboy

I'd be lying if I said, I wish you never found my bed - Becca x MC - @warham40k

Love Despite - James x MC - @blazerina

Love Despite Part 2 - James x MC - @blazerina

Love Despite Part 3 - James x MC - @blazerina

Reminding Me - Chris x MC - @partytwinjess 

The Freshman Art: 

Prompt 16 - James x MC  - @keltic-moon

You Can Ruin That in My Computer - @lanapowellblog 

The Royal Romance:

A Love That Should Be - Maxwell x MC, Drake x MC, Hana x MC - @catsrtheboss

Answer - Maxwell x MC - @tevandrammir

Burnin’ Love (Part two) (NSFW) - Maxwell x MC (NSFW) - @endlessraj

For Better Or Worse - Drake x MC - @heart-drake

I Do Drake x MC - @zigsexual

Just Fall - Hana x MC -  @texanhusker

Late Night Disturbance - Drake x MC - @hhiggs

Never His - Drake x MC - @andromeda117

Nothing’s Free in this cruel big world - Maxwell x MC - @stellabeaumontoframsford28

Shine and Fade - Drake x MC - @kittenmusicals

The Time it Took to Fall -  Maxwell x MC - @maggiegames

Wedding Prayer - Maxwell x MC - @ashtonlaurent

What Will Never Be - Maxwell x MC - @zigisbisexual 

The Royal Romance Fan Edit: 

Drake’s Heartfelt Confession - Drake x MC - @firefly-hwufanficwriter

Rules of Engagement:

Anecdoche - @peace-coast-island

Nonspecific:

Doublespeak - MC x Drake, MC x Jake McKenzie, MC x Maxwell Beaumont  -@punexpectedly  

[angstymarshmallow]

Fanfiction Masterlist!

“Either write something worth reading or do something worth writing.” - Benjamin Franklin

A list of fics with the click of a button. If anyone’s ever interested or ever bored - this is my sort of contribution to the fandom with sporadic updates and ideas. Thanks for taking a look and more importantly - thanks for reading!

Writing Tips?  Bloodbound 

Adrian Raines x MC

Less Netflix Next Time (NSFW)

Jax Matsuo x MC

A Moment’s Rest Wilted and Burdened  (Fic Request) Fed (NSFW)

Kamilah Sayeed x MC

Happy Birthday

Crossovers

Saving Thanksgiving Part 1

General

Follow Me (Submission for #ChoicesCreates Round 19) I’ll Sink. I’ll Drown. Where we Are  (Submission for #ChoicesCreates Round 14)

Hero

Eva x MC

You’re Different (Fic Request)

Kenji Katsaros x MC

Game Over (Fic Request) Partner (Fic Request) (Drabble)

It Lives Beneath

Tomoichi Sato x MC

Maybe Someday

It Lives in The Woods

MC’s Private Thoughts

Survive 

Connor  Green x MC

Nightmares

Endless Summer

Jake McKenzie x MC

Falling Maybe Goodbyes Are Always Hard [Tagged Game] You Jump, I Jump (Fic Request)

Most Wanted

General

A Son’s Burden (Submission for #ChoicesCreates Round 9)  Covert Action Covert Action Part 2 (Submission for #ChoicesCreates Round 27) Cover Action Part 3 

Nightbound

Cal x MC

The Wolf’s Heart Series: part 1 (nsfw), part 2, part 3, part 4, part 5, part 6, part 7, part 8 (nsfw), part 9

A World Away 

Sealed With A Kiss

Open Heart

Bryce Lahela x MC 

Game Night - Part 1 Sick Day Unattached Strings

Perfect Match

Damien Nazario x MC 

A Not Date A Piece of You Fumes of Her (NSFW) (Fic Request)

Hayden x MC

In Her Eyes

Red Carpet Diaries

Matt x MC

Same World

Seth x MC

Coded Warmth Confide and Comfort Hearts on Sleeves Maximum Comfort Unboxing Downpour of Doubt

Thomas Hunt x MC

A Family Affair Clarity (NSFW) Fresh Start Hollywood’s Loss Muse Lots of Firsts Opia Perhaps You Should Stay Simply Between Us Series: Part 1, Part 2 , Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7, Part 8 (NSFW) The Same Direction

Rules of Engagement

Blake Yasuda x Party Twin

Worth The Risk

The Bartender/Dean  x MC

 Another Man

The Crown and the Flame

Kenna Rys x Dominic Hunter

Race You (Submission for @ChoicesCreates Round 17)

Kenna Rys x Annelyse Adair

OTP Asks

The Elementalists

Beckett Harrington x MC

Contrast Glimpse

Griffin Langley x MC

Pillow Talk Practice Runs Take a Break

The Freshman/The Sophomore/The Junior/The Senior

MC’s Most Private Thoughts

Dear Mom Dear Mom ii. Dear Mom iii Dear Mom iv Pieces (Submission for #ChoicesCreates Round 5) Our Rooftop. (Submission for #ChoicesCreates Round 8)

Final Project Passion Led Us - Tyler  (Submission for #ChoicesCreates Round 6)

Christopher Powell x MC

A Summer of Powell [ 0.1, Caught in the Moment (NSFW) (Fic Request)] A Surprise Visit (Fic Request) Atonic Impact (Fic Request) Break Between Sessions (NSFW) Ceasefire (Fic Request) Deftly Intertwined (NSFW) Fell in Your Opinion Good Luck Charm (NSFW)(Fic Request) Hey, You (AJ’s Perspective) I’ve Got You OTP Asks Pull (Submission for #ChoicesCreates Round 10) Pillow Talk (NSFW) Save Me (NSFW) (Submission for #ChoicesCreates Round 4) Through Everything When Everything is Still

James Ashton x MC

Coming Home Could We Survive This? Our Last Goodbye In Circles OTP Asks

Zigmund Ortega x MC

All in (NSFW) (Fic Request) A Midnight Calling (Halloween AU) A New Years Countdown (Fic Request) A Plus for Effort (Drabble Request) Autumn Leaves (Fic Request) Being Together is Enough Part 1 Being Together is Enough Part 2 (NSFW) Being Together is Enough Part 3 Can’t Let Go (Fic Request) Coming To Terms Date Night (Fic Request) (NSFW) Demons Early Thoughts of You Etched in Skin Fair Game Fifty-fifty Fissure (NSFW) Goodies Here [Part 1, Thanksgiving Fic], Abysmal [Part 2, Thanksgiving Fic] Her Voice His Voice If She’s Anything Like You Just Five More Minutes Like Magic Loving You Hurts (Fic Request) Of Kisses and Lessons OTP Asks part 1 OTP Asks part 2 Retrouvailles [Part 1 (NSFW) (Fic Request), Part 2, Part 3] Valentine’s Day Collab Special When You Became Mine Part 1. With @choicesmyway for part 2  and @hollyashton for part 3. Second Time’s a Charm (Drabble Request) Serendipity: Part 1 Six am (Fic Request)  Smooth as Silk (NSFW) Sniffles and Breakfast in Bed (Drabble Request) Stay With Me (Drabble Request) Sunshine Mixed With Hurricane (NSFW)  Text Dump Post 1.0 The Letters You’ll Never See The Open Road (NSFW) The Only Love That Counted Three Days for Us (Submission for #ChoicesCreates Round 21)  We Meet

Kaitlyn Liao x MC

Cookie Cutter (Fic Request) Kindled Flame My Little Trailblazer (Part 2 of Kindled Flame) Movie Night (Fic Request) OTP Asks Sparks  You’re Lucky I Love You (Drabble Request) 600 Miles Until You’re Mine (Drabble Request)

The Royal Romance/The Royal Heir Masterlist

Veil of Secrets

Grant Emerson x MC

Mystery Worth Solving

#LoveHacks

General

We’re All Different (Submission for#ChoicesCreates Round 3)

Mark Collins x MC

Patterns (Submission for #ChoicesCreates Round 1) Serendipity OTP Asks OTP Asks part 2

Disclaimer: These are all works of fan fiction with the use of characters from the choices universe; owned by Pixelberry. I do not own nor claim any ownership of the characters above. These are stories just for fun, with no real purpose other than story-telling from a purely subjective standpoint and do not reflect choices own timeline. No copyright infringement is intended.